Journal Articles
Journal articles usually provide information on a specific research topic and are often subject to review by discipline experts prior to publication. They may also be referred to as ‘scholarly’ or ‘peer reviewed’ articles.
They can also be valuable sources for data and analysis, and to identify alternative perspectives on an issue.
For example:
Public relations review
Trade Publications
Trade publications can be a good source of information produced by and about a particular industry sector but are not peer reviewed.
For example:
PRweek
PRwire
News Articles
News articles, published in print or online, can provide up-to-date reports, editorial comment or feature length coverage about current events. They are not peer reviewed.
For example:
NewsBank database
Reports
There are many different types of reports, including those produced by Governments, industry bodies, companies and other organisations. Reports often have corporate or collective authors, such as a Government department or company board. They can be a good source of data.
For example:
Campaign Advertising by Australian Government Departments and Agencies
Websites
Websites can provide up to date information, however it is important to critically evaluate any information found openly online, as the provenance and authority of websites and the accuracy and credibility of the information they present can vary widely.
For example:
Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA)